Book Description

| Age Level:12 - 17 | Grade Level:7 - 12

In Tempest Rising, Tempest chose to return to the sea, following in her mother's footsteps and forging a relationship with the selkie Kona. Now many months have gone by, and she yearns to see her family again. Life under the ocean is full of rigorous training to eventually take over the throne, which leads to Tempest's powers growing and manifesting in new ways. When Tiamat, Tempest's power-hungry nemesis, attacks Tempest's brother Moku on land, she returns to his side, which also brings her back to her old flame, Mark. But was the attack calculated to get Tempest out of the way? As the battle rages, Tempest's two loves will collide to both protect her and force her to choose. And when the biggest casualty of all befalls the merpeople-the Queen loses her life-will Tempest be able, or willing, to take over the throne?

In Tempest Rising, Tempest chose to return to the sea, following in her mother's footsteps and forging a relationship with the selkie Kona. Now many months have gone by, and she yearns to see her family again. Life under the ocean is full of rigorous training to eventually take over the throne, which leads to Tempest's powers growing and manifesting in new ways. When Tiamat, Tempest's power-hungry nemesis, attacks Tempest's brother Moku on land, she returns to his side, which also brings her back to her old flame, Mark. But was the attack calculated to get Tempest out of the way? As the battle rages, Tempest's two loves will collide to both protect her and force her to choose. And when the biggest casualty of all befalls the merpeople-the Queen loses her life-will Tempest be able, or willing, to take over the throne?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dark, magical, and achingly beautiful, Tempest Rising enthralled me from beginning to end... A must read for any mermaid lover and anyone who loves an epic read." ~ Tera Lynn Childs, author of Oh. My. Gods. and Forgive My Fins Among the recent spate of mermaid books this easily stands as the darkest, even though romance remains the main thrust of the story... An exciting-enough story, seriously overdone, which many young readers will love. Kirkus Reviews The underwater world and its residents are truly imaginative creations, providing a vibrant and unique backdrop to Tempest's predicament. ... Fans of paranormal romances looking for something beyond the customary vampire or werewolf might want to catch this wave of fantasy and enchantment. BCCB

About the Author

TRACY DEEBS is the author of Tempest Rising and the co-author of The International Kissing Club (under a pseudonym, Ivy Adams) for teen readers. She collects books, English degrees, and lipsticks. She has been known to forget where-and sometimes who-she is when immersed in a great novel. She is a writing and literature professor at Austin Community College. www.tracydeebs.com

Unfortunately, I did not love it, or even like it. It had a good plot, but the characters! Tempest seemed incredibly annoying, naïve and thought she knew everything. It just annoyed the hell out of me when she made everyone feel guilty when she was the one who was wrong. Really...she also kept switching from Kona to Mark. From Mark to Kona. From Kona to Mark. From Mark to...you get the point. It really did annoy me, even more when she said that she loved them both. And (SPOILER NEXT) I can't believe she abandoned Kona when he needed her most. Instead she picked Mark of ALL PEOPLE. Obviously, I'm Team Kona here. (SPOILER END) But even so...I just couldn't fathom how Tempest could be so oblivious, naïve, unforgiving, and smart-mouthed (when she really shouldn't be).

The plot was great and fun and Tempest learned more about her mom, and though she didn't completely forgive her mom, she started understanding just a bit more. She practices her powers more, learning both how to use them and trying to discover how to defeat Tiamat once and for all. I loved how Tracy Deebs described how Tempest channeled her power and I absolutely adore the underwater world she created! It was enchanting how all the pieces came together in their world and I found it just a tad amusing how all the "land-lubbers" didn't have a clue! Except Mark, but he's another story

All in all, it would've been a pretty good book (4 stars?), but I highly disliked Tempest in this book, so it dropped by 2 stars. I feel as if, even though Tracy Deebs did do a good job writing the story, Tempest was too...irritating. And characters are a MAJOR part of my reviews so...it's just how it happened.

Tempest said goodbye to her old life in order to accept her mermaid half and join Kona along with her destiny under the sea. She's the one prophesized to save everyone from the evil sea witch Tiamat. If that wasn't pressure enough, she's also being groomed to take over for the Queen when the time comes. Even so, she's relatively happy with her choice even if she doesn't quite feel right in her skin. But when her brother is hurt and ends up in critical condition, she finds herself racing home. As she gets a taste of her old life, she realizes just how much she missed it all, especially Mark, her old boyfriend who she's never really been able to forget despite her love for Kona. Meanwhile, the war with Tiamat is brewing, and she will stop at nothing to see Tempest destroyed.

After the way things ended in Tempest Rising, I hadn't thought Tempest would have still been so torn between her two lives anymore. However, torn is an understatement as she realizes that giving up her family and life on land wasn't going to be as easy as she thought. In fact it almost seems as the only really thing holding her in the ocean other than the immense draw to the water she feels, is Kona. This is especially apparent once she gets a taste of her old life. Between the constant training and a Queen who wants her to be something she isn't, not to mention the constant threats from the sea witch Tiamat, and this mermaid thing isn't really all its cracked up to be. Yet her sense of duty to her people is admirable, as she refuses to abandon them to Tiamet despite what it costs her.

As much as I had thought the love triangle was no big deal in the first installment, I would have never been able to predict just how much that would change in Tempest Unleashed. Things went from a clear cut choice for me in Kona, as I thought there was no chance at a future with Mark. However, everything changes once he's back her life. There was so much more depth between them this time around that I'm finding myself every bit as torn as Tempest is, and I'm not happy about it. They each represent one side of the two lives she is torn between, Land and Sea, and her struggle between them doesn't help to make things any easier. No matter which one she chooses, she will still feel an incredible pull to the life and boy she didn't choose. I just don't see how she could be fully happy either way as both lives are firmly part of her soul and giving up either will be like living only half a life. I almost wish she could be like Persephone and live half the time in one place and half in the other, but of course that's really only a pipe dream because life just doesn't work that way.

I really enjoyed Tempest Unleashed, in fact I'm rather desperate to get my hands on the final installment. Every time I think I have things figured out or try to predict how things will go, everything gets completely shaken up, leaving me on the edge of my seat. So, I cannot recommend Tempest Unleashed any higher as it really is a roller coaster ride of both action and emotions from start to finish. This is one tale under the sea that you don't want to miss!rcRead more ›

Tempest made her choice to live under the sea but misses her life and family on land more then words can tell. Her relationship with Selkie Kona is going well but she still pines for the human Mark no matter how happy she is. That is bad enough but then Tiamat strikes out and Tempest dashes home to her brother in the hospital with injuries he might not live through.

TEMPEST UNLEASHED is filled with doubts, heartache, war and tough choices. Tempest doesn't want to hurt anyone so it makes everything that much harder. The love triangle between Her, Mark and Kona is off the charts and a bit frustrating. I know that Mark and her have history together but I love Kona. I think Tempest wont be 100% happy with either of them but also cant see either of them not in her life. A huge portion of the book takes place under the ocean and I really enjoyed seeing how Deebs mermaids and underwater characters live and how they run things. There is plenty of action while Tempest learns to use her powers and her battle with Tiamat at the end of the book. I was glad to see that she got to spend time with her family and I look forward to seeing how things progress in book 3.

The ending for me wasn't fantastic. I don't know why but I'm a little sad about her decision. Maybe it will feel better when I read more.

I think I would have liked it more Tempest was a little less 'the grass is always greener,' especially about her romantic choices. At the end of the first book, she knew she was staying with Kona. One brush with Mark and *he's* the one making her all tingly all of the sudden?

So we end Unleashed with her positive she's going to stay with Mark. Why do I have this feeling that if there's a third....she'll have a brush with Kona and get all tingly?